Sellers of default insurance on Aiful Corp. debt may have to pay out about $975 million to settle contracts on Japan’s third-biggest consumer lender, according to CMA DataVision prices.

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Aiful Debt Swap Sellers to Pay $975 Million to Settle Contracts

The Taliban are claiming responsibility for a roadside bomb blast in southern Afghanistan that killed four Canadian soldiers and a journalist embedded in their unit. Taliban spokesman Qari Mohmmmad Yusuf Ahmadi told The Associated Press that his group…

Afghanistan – Khost Province – Suicide attack – Military base – United States

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Taliban claim bomb that killed 5 Canadians

U.S. regulators rejected an experimental antibiotic developed by Johnson & Johnson and Basilea Pharmaceutica because its clinical trial data were “unreliable.” The Food and Drug Administration requested two new studies on ceftobiprole, developed with New Brunswick-based Johnson & Johnson and…

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FDA rejects new Johnson&Johnson antibiotic

United Co. Rusal Ltd. plans to raise as much as HK$20.1 billion ($2.6 billion) in a Hong Kong initial public offering, paving the way for the world’s largest aluminum producer to pare $14.9 billion of debt.

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Rusal Plans to Raise as Much as $2.6 Billion in IPO (Update4)

Malaysia’s High Court ruled that a government ban on non-Muslim publications using the word “Allah” is unconstitutional, settling a dispute that stoked questions about religious freedom in the country.

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Malaysia Court Rules Catholic Paper Can Print ‘Allah’ (Update1)

U.S. stock mutual funds with the biggest losses in the past 10 years, a list topped by Fidelity Growth Strategies and Vanguard U.S. Growth, were crushed by the market sell-off at the start of the decade and never recovered.

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Decade’s Worst Funds Never Recovered From Technology-Stock Bust

Mortgage bonds are poised to slump after a record rally as the Federal Reserve’s unprecedented buying of $1.25 trillion of the securities ends as soon as March, driving up interest rates on new home loans.

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Mortgage Bond Rally May End, Rates Rise as Fed Stops Purchases

(Reuters) U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Thursday for the last trading session of the year, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.2 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.2 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.1 percent at 3.48 a.m. ET.

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Stock futures signal rise on last day of 2009

As Ronak Ray hunted for his flight gate, he prepared for the prospect of a security guard peering through his clothes with a full body scanner. But Ray doesn’t mind: what he gives up in privacy he gets back in security. “I think it’s necessary,” said Ray, a…

Privacy – United States – Security – Homeland security – Associated Press

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Scanners force trade-off between privacy, security

Eight American civilians died in a suicide-bomb attack on an American military base in Afghanistan, a U.S. official said. The terrorist assault occurred as the U.S. expands its involvement in the war in Afghanistan.

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Eight Americans Killed in Attack on Afghanistan Base (Update2)

President Barack Obama is being urged to strengthen anti-terrorism efforts as he awaits initial results of an investigation into the Dec. 25 attempted bombing of a U.S. airliner.

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Obama Pressured on Terrorism as Bomb Attempt Shows Safety Gaps

Global stocks rose, set for the biggest annual gain since 2003, and oil and copper headed for their largest rallies in at least a decade after China pledged to maintain policies that helped pull the world from recession.

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Global Stocks Set for Biggest Gain Since 2003; Oil, Copper Rise

HONG KONG (Reuters) – Asia stocks rose on Thursday, racking up a 68 percent gain for the year, as a jump in U.S. consumer confidence reinforced views that the world’s largest economy is gradually recovering.

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Asia stocks end 2009 with 68 percent gain

Oil prices headed toward $80 a barrel Thursday in Asia, the final day of trading for 2009, after U.S. crude stockpiles fell for the fourth week in a row. Benchmark crude for February delivery was up 28 cents at $79.56 a barrel at late morning Bangkok time in…

Asia – Singapore – Benchmark – Business – Energy

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Oil rises in Asia after US crude stockpiles fall

6310 AP-BKC–Howard-Saint Mary’s Box SAINT MARY’S 94, HOWARD 46 HOWARD (1-12) White 1-5 0-0 2, Thompson 2-8 2-2 8, Phillips 1-5 2-2 4, Riley 3-10 0-1 6, Kirkpatrick 4-14 1-4 9, Mukole 1-6 2-4 4, Dickerson 1-5 0-0 2, Braimbridge 0-1 0-0 0, Collins 2-8 0-0 5,…

United States – Maryland – Howard – Counties – Riley

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BKC Howard Saint Mary’s Box